Abu Dhabi: Real Madrid can make 2017 their most successful year ever if they beat Brazil’s Gremio in Saturday’s Fifa Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City from 9pm.
Having already won four titles in the La Liga, the Uefa Champions League, the Supercopa de Espana and the Uefa Super Cup, they can now make it an unprecedented five in a calendar year, and would also become the first side to retain the Club World Cup.
The historic feat would solidify coach Zinedine Zidane’s position after a slow start to the 2017/18 season, where Real are third in La Liga and eight points off leaders Barcelona ahead of next week’s El Clasico.
Defeat, however, would bring yet more pressure on the Frenchman, whose performance is under scrutiny despite winning seven titles since taking charge two years ago.
Should Gremio shock the reigning world and European champions, on the other hand, they would be the first Brazilian winners in five years and only the fifth in tournament history.
And an upset isn’t necessarily off the cards.
Real were almost embarrassed by UAE side Al Jazira in their 2-1 comeback win in Wednesday’s semi-final, while Gremio were taken to extra time by Pachuca of Mexico, before winning Tuesday’s other semi, 1-0.
“We don’t know the Brazilian league very well,” said Zidane. “But Gremio are a good team and we will have to reach a high level to be very competitive, because this will be a very difficult match. No game is easy, as we saw against Al Jazira and it will be even more difficult against a Brazilian side who — like us — have reached a final.”
Of winning a record fifth title in a calendar year, he added: “It motivates me and the players to have another title. We are looking for it and want to defend the title we won last year.
“For that we have come here and want to come back with a trophy and that’s what we will try to do.”
Old quotes from Gremio coach Renato Portaluppi had been dug up just before the tournament with the Brazilian claiming that in his day he was a better player than Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Without a doubt I think I played better than he does,” said the former Brazil striker. “I would like to see Cristiano Ronaldo playing at the clubs I played at, some of them where we never got paid for three or four months, and winning trophies like I did.
“I want to be playing for Real Madrid today, playing once a week, on great fields, and with the teammates that Ronaldo has. I really want to see that.
“For sure,” Portaluppi insisted that he was the better player, adding that there’s “no doubt that Ronaldo is a great player” but suggested that the Portuguese star is “not as versatile” as he himself once was.
“Ronaldo has a lot of strength, but he doesn’t have a lot of technique. This current generation didn’t see me play. I guarantee that those who saw me play would have a different opinion [about who the better player was].”
Such soundbites are sure to add spice to the final. But Ronaldo, who last week matched Lionel Messi’s record of five Ballon d’Or wins, before taking his overall Club World Cup goal tally to a record six with Wednesday’s equaliser against Al Jazira, won’t feel the need to answer to anyone.
